New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has finally approved Jatni an ideal location to establish the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhubaneswar.

An area of 935 acres near Jatni in Khurda district of Orissa has been approved by the MHRD on Monday to establish the IIT.

"There were four possible sites for the top institute. But the government approved the location near Jatni as it has vast land area and is near to airport," informed a HRD Ministry official.

"The rail and road connectivity is very good to this place," added official.

The foundation stone for the prestigious technical institute will be soon laid down by the Union HRD Minister Mr. Arjun Singh.

Earlier, site identification committee headed by Ashok Thakur, Additional Secretary, MHRD, had suggested Aragul as a location to establish the IIT.

The site identification committee visited the sites near Jatni, Banki, Ramdaspur and Gayabandha on December 24 and 25 last year.

The IIT-Bhubaneswar has already started functioning at IIT-Kharagpur. The first batch of students has taken admission and their classes are held at IIT- Kharagpur.

After the new infrastructure is created at the newly selected site, the institute will start functioning from its own campus.
The State Government has been asked to transfer the land to the IIT Society of IIT Bhubaneswar immediately so that the construction of the building and other facilities can be started.

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